When missiles attack from high altitudes, Arrow 3 will be able to destroy them before they enter the Earth's atmosphere. The new defense system has already entered its first phase of operation. The Bundeswehr wants to destroy ballistic missiles as they enter from space. This makes Germany the first country after Israel to integrate Arrow 3 into its defense.
The introduction of this system is an immediate reaction to Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine and the growing threat from modern long-range missiles. Arrow 3 is an element of Germany's reorientation in the security sphere. The danger of a direct missile strike from high altitudes or from space is assessed as not particularly high for Germany and Europe. However, countries like Russia have long-range ballistic missiles that can reach extreme altitudes and could pose a serious threat in a crisis.
So far, Germany has had no military response to this. NATO analyses have long warned of a gap in Europe's defense in this regard. Arrow 3 is intended to fill it.
Hit-to-Kill: precision instead of explosion
The Arrow 3 missile defense system was developed jointly by Israel and the United States and is one of the most advanced in the world when it comes to defense against intercontinental missiles. The IRIS-T air defense system covers short distances of up to about 15 kilometers, the “Patriot” - medium distances of up to about 50 kilometers. And Arrow 3 can protect against longer-range threats. It can intercept attacking missiles at altitudes of up to 100 kilometers - on the border of space - and has a range of up to 2,400 kilometers.
The Arrow 3 is considered a technological leader, but at a high price: according to estimates, one Arrow 3 missile costs several million euros. The Patriot and IRIS-T are significantly cheaper and can be used in larger numbers if necessary.
The Arrow 3 works on the so-called "Hit-to-Kill" principle: the approaching missile is destroyed not by explosives, but by a direct hit. The interceptor missile hits the target along its trajectory before it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere. This produces less debris than an explosive device, which increases safety over populated areas. To this end, the defense system needs precise control. The warhead also has its own sensors for correction during flight.
Defense against fast ballistic missiles
Like the “Patriot”, the Arrow 3 consists of three main components: an early warning radar and rapid trajectory detection, a combat management system and threat analysis for decision-making, and a mobile interceptor missile launch system.
The system is primarily designed to intercept ballistic missiles. These are weapons that, after being launched, follow a trajectory largely determined by gravity. They are first accelerated by the rocket engine, then rise to a high altitude and in some cases can even reach space before reaching their target.
Unlike cruise missiles, which are actively controlled throughout their flight, ballistic missiles are controlled only in the initial phase. They are particularly difficult to intercept because they fly extremely fast, cover great distances and rise high in the atmosphere. Modern intercontinental missiles, such as the Russian “Sarmat“, reach speeds of over 20,000 kilometers per hour.
Holzdorf: the first Arrow 3 base in Germany
The first base for the missile defense system is the Holzdorf military airfield, south of Berlin. There, personnel, procedures and the integration of the system into the NATO air defense network are tested. Holzdorf serves as the starting point for the construction of a national long-range missile defense shield. Two more bases are planned in Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein. The full protection capability of the Arrow 3 system is expected to be achieved in 2030. The distribution of the systems at several locations is intended to ensure that protection is provided even in the event of the failure of individual components in a critical situation.
Arrow 3 was officially put into operation by Israel in early 2017. Unlike the well-known anti-missile system “Iron Dome“, which primarily repels rocket attacks from Gaza and Lebanon, Arrow 3 was developed specifically for long-range missiles. With the deployment of the system in Germany, it becomes part of the European Sky Shield Initiative for the first time, in which Germany is an active participant.
At the end of September 2023, Germany and Israel signed a deal in Berlin for the purchase of the Arrow 3 system - the largest arms deal with Israel to date. According to data from the German Ministry of Defense, the volume of the deal amounts to over 3.6 billion euros. Part of the amount will be invested in maintenance and service packages that will ensure the system's operation for decades. For Europe, Arrow 3 is also a step towards greater independence from US weapons systems.
Author: Ralf Bosen